Theodore h



T. H. KRUEGER.

MOlSTENING DEVICE FOR GUMMED STICKERS 0R LABELS.

APPLICATION mm 06125. I915.

1 1 94,752. Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

%M 2/ INVENTOR.

BY 0 Z A TTORNEY provements THEODORE H. KRUEGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOISTENING DEVICE FOR GUMMED STICKERS OR LABELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed October 25, 1915. Serial No. 57,660.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnnononn H. Kaunenn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Imin Moistening Devices for Gummed Stickers or Labels, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a device for moistening the ends of gummed strips or sheets, and has for its object to provide a moistening device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the gummed ends of the strips can be simultaneously moistened as they are withdrawn one at a time from a magazine, thereby admitting of the strips being withdrawn and moistened with great rapidity when applying them to a number of en velops or packages.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a moistener of this character which is simple and inexpensive in its construction, which will hold a large number of gummed strips in such a manner that they can be easily withdrawn one at a time and moistened at the ends thereof preparatory to being applied to envelops or packages, which admits of the strips being handled by the middle portions thereof without soiling the fingers or causing the fingers to come into contact with the gummed end portions of the strips, and which will not become clogged in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proneeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which I have illustrated one preferable embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gummed strip moistener constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the middle of the moistener. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the moistening brushes, portions of the bristles being removed.

Specifically describing the present em bodiment of the invention. the numeral 1 designates a base plate upon which the mag may or may not extend under the magazine 3, as found preferable.

The magazine 3 is open at the top and front thereof, and the gummed strips or labels 7 are arranged therein in an upright or edgewise position, the strip at the front of the magazine being engaged at the ends thereof by inturned flanges 8 projecting from the sides of the magazine, while the rear gulnmed strip is engaged by a follower 9 which is movable back and forth within the magazine and is held in operative position by a transversely disposed and bowed spring strip 10, the ends of which frictionally engage the side walls of the magazine. The gummed strips 7 may be of any desired character, although they are preferably of that type disclosed by my copending application executed of even date herewith and filed of even date herewith. The end portions of the strips 7 are gummed at 7, while the intermediate portions 7* are free from gum, and may or may not be reinforced. The gummed strip 7 at the front of the magazine can be easily and quickly with drawn at any time by grasping the ungummed middle portion T thereof with the fingers and pulling it forwardly out of engagement with the side retaining flange 8 of the magazine.

The guide plate 6 which closes the top of the reservoir 5 faces the front of the magazine, being inclined upwardly and forwardly away from the same. The end of the reservoir 5 at the front of the moistenin device is bifurcated to provide a pair 0 spaced compartments 5 separated by a finger clearance space 11. The inclined guide plate 6 at the top of the reservoir has the forward edge thereof notched in a manner corresponding to the bifurcation of the end of the reservoir. so that the finger clearance space 11 is open at the top and front of the device.

It will also be observed that this finger clearance space 11 is disposed directly opposite the ungunnned portions T of the gummed strips 7 in the magazine so that the fingers of the operator will meet with no obstructions in grasping the ungummed portion 7 of the forward gummed strip and pulling the said gummed strip forwardly over the inclined guide plate 6.

Each of the compartments 5* of the reservoir 5 is provided at the forward end thereof with a well 12 which opens upwardly through the inclined plate 6 at the top of the reservoir. The moistening elements 4, which are shown in the form of brushes, are removably inserted in the reservoirs 12, the upper ends of the moistening devices normally projecting slightly above the plate 6. Capillary attraction will cause the water from the reservoir to work its way up through the brushes or moistening elements l and maintain the same in a moist condition as long as there is any water in the reservoir. The brushes t may be of any suitable construction, and in the present instance the backs l are shown as provided with a series of upwardly extending wires 13 which serve to support the bristles and keep them in proper position, the upper extremities of the wires being extended laterally at 13 and projecting through the bristles at a point spaced from the upper ends thereof. The brushes are adapted to be dropped into position or removed therefrom by the fingers, being normally held in operative position by the action of gravity.

Arranged over each of the moistening elements 4 is a guard plate ll, said guard plates being of sufficient width to project laterally upon opposite sides of the moistening elements, and being shown as arranged sub stantially parallel to the inclined guide plate 6. The edges ll of the guard plates facing toward the magazine 3 are preferably deflected upwardly so that there will be no difiiculty in drawing the gummed strips 7 between the guide plate 6 and the guard plates 11. The outer end of each of the guard plates ll is provided with a downwardly projecting finger 15 which fits slid ably within a guide slot 16 in the side of the reservoir. The guard plates 14 normally rest lightly upon the upper ends of the brushes 4, being held in position by the action of gravity, although they can be easily lifted out of position at any time. A filler spout 17 may be provided at a convenient point on one side of the reservoir, the end of the filler spout being shown as closed by a removable cap 18.

In the operation of the device the gummed strips 7 are withdrawn one at a time from the front of the magazine 3, and by a mere continuation of the movement incident to withdrawing the gummed strip, it is pulled forwardly over the inclined guide plate 6 and the gummed end portions 7 thereof drawn between the upper end of the brushes 4: and the guard plates 14, the fingers of the operator grasping the gunnned strip at the ungummed middle portion 7" thereof and moving within the clearance space 11. A single operation of the hand thus serves both to withdraw the gummed strip and to moisten the ends thereof, and it will accordingly be apparent that with the use of this moistening device an operator can with a little experience acquire great speed in affixing the gummed strips to envelops, packages and the like.

It will be observed that I employ brushes 4 as moistening elements. These brushes are preferable to moistening rollers or fabric pads as they more efiiciently moisten the gummed paper without scraping or removing the gum from the paper during the moistening operation.

I have found, in practice, that a felt pad, when used as a moistening element, has a tendency to scrape the gum from the fastener, when drawn across the pad under sufficient ressure to effect adequate moistening thereof A hair brush, however, as employed by me does not have this tendency, but, on the contrary, deposits sufficient moisture throughout the gummed surface uniformly to cause adequate adhesion when the sticker is subjected to use.

\Vhile I have illustrated a preferable form in which my invention may find embodiment, I do so by way of example only as changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device for moistening gummed strips including a pair of independent moistening elements arranged side by side and spaced from each other across which the ends of the strip are adapted to be drawn, spaced and independent guard members mounted in cooperative relation to the moistening elements, and guide means for directing the gummed strips between the moistening elements and the guard members.

2. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including a pair of spaced moistening elements having a finger clearance space between the same.

3. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including a pair of spaced moistening elements having a finger clearance space between the same, independent guard plates arranged over the respective moistening elements, and guide means for directing the strips between the moistening elements and the guard plates, the finger clearance space enabling the strips to be grasped at the middle and drawn over the moistening elements.

4. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including a guide plate having a notched end providing a finger clearance space, independent moistening elements projecting upwardly above the guide plate on opposite sides of the finger clearance space, and means arranged over the moistening elements for forcing the ends of the gummed strips into engagement therewit 5. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including an inclined guide plate having a notched end providing a finger clearance space, independent moistening elerhents projecting upwardly beyond the inclined guide plate on opposite sides of the finger clearance space, and guard plates having a spaced relation to the inclined guide plate and resting loosely upon the moistening devices so as to force the ends of the gummed strips into engagement with the moistening devices as the gummed strips are drawn between the inclined guide plate and the guard plates.

6. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including a guide plate having a notched end providing a finger clearance space, a reservoir arranged under the guide plate and bifurcated to provide compartments disposed upon opposite sides of the finger clearance space, a well within each of the compartments, independent moistening elements inserted in the wells and projecting upwardly above the guide plate, and means arranged over the moistening elements for forcing the ends of the gummed strips into engagement with the moistening devices as the gummed strips are drawn over the moistening devices.

7. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including an inclined guide plate having one end thereof notched to provide a finger clearance space, a reservoir arranged under the inclined guide plate and having one end thereof bifurcated to form compartments extending upon opposite sides of the finger clearance space, a well within each of the said compartments, :1 moistening element arranged within each of the wells and projecting upwardly above the inclined guide plate, a guard plate arranged over each of the moistening elements and resting loosely thereon, a supporting finger projecting from each of the guard plates, and guides receiving the supporting fingers.

8. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including a base. a gummed strip magazine mounted upon the base and constructed to discharge toward the front thereof, and a pair of spaced moistening elements carried by the base and arranged opposite the front of the magazine so that the gummed strips can be drawn across the moistening elements at the same time they are withdrawn from the magazine.

9. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including a base, a gummed strip magazine mounted upon the base and constructed to discharge through the front thereof, an inclined guide plate arranged at the front of the magazine and having the end thereof notched to provide a finger clear ance space, and independent moistening elements projecting upwardly above the inclined guide plate on opposite sides of the finger clearance space.

10. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including a base, a gummed strip magazine mounted upon the base and having an open front with retaining flanges at the sides thereof, the strips being adapted to be withdrawn one at a time through the open front, an inclined guide plate arranged opposite the front of the magazine and having the end thereof notched to provide a finger clearance space, a reservoir under the guide plate and formed with compartments extending on opposite sides of the finger clearance space, a well within each of the compartments, and moistening elements fitted within the wells and projecting upwardly above the guide plate.

11. A device for moistening the ends of gummed strips, including a base, a gummed strip magazine mounted upon the base and formed with an open front having retaining flanges at the sides thereof, the gummed strips being adapted to be grasped at the middle and withdrawn one at a time through the front of the magazine, an inclined ide plate arranged opposite the front 0 the magazine and having a notch in the end thereof to provide a finger clearance space, a reservoir under the inclined ide plate and having compartments exten 'ng on opposite sides of the finger clearance space, a well within each of the compartments, moistening elements arranged within each of the wells and projecting upwardly above the inclined guide plates on opposite sides of the finger clearance space, and guard plates arranged over' the moistening elements and resting lightly thereon.

12. A device for moistening gummed strips including a reservoir, an inverted brush partially submerged in the reservoir and projecting upwardly above the same so that water within the reservoir will be fed to the bristles of the brush by capillary attraction, and guard means arranged over the end of the brush in cooperative relation thereto.

13. A device for moistening gummed strips, including a reservoir provided with spaced and independent wells, inverted brushes arranged side by side in a spaced relation and partially submerged in the wells so that water will be fed to the bristles by capillary attraction, and guard members mounted over the inverted brushes in cooperative relation thereto.

14. A device for moistening gummed strips, including an upwardly facing moistening element, means for supplying moisture thereto, a guard plate resting by gravity on the moistenin element, and means for holding the guar plate against lateral 1 0 displacement.

1 5. A device for noistening gummed strips, reservoir, an inverted brushpp'a ially subnierged in the reser- V011 and flj'ct'n'g upwardly above the sameso that will 'be fed to the ,bristles of-gtlie apillary attraction, a guard me' ,g 'by'gravity upon the 10 displacement.

tles by capillaryattraction, and guard members mounted over the inverted brushes in cooperative relation thereto.

14. A device for ,moistening gummed strips, including an upwardly facing moistening element, means for supplying moisture thereto, a guard plate resting by grav ity on the moistenin element, and means for holding the guar plate against lateral 15. A device for moistening gummed strips, including a reservoir, an inverted brush partially submerged in the reservoir and projecting upwardly above the same so that Water will'be fed to the .bristles of the brush by capillary attraction, a guard member resting by gravity upon the inverted brush, and means for holding the guard member against lateral displacement.

THEODORE H. KRUEGER.

' DISCLAIIMER 1.,194,752. Tlw0d0re H. Krueger, GUMMED STICKERS OR LABELS.

New York, N. Y; MOISTENING DEVICE FOR Patent dated August 15, 1916. January 24, 1933, by the assignee, Better Packagealnc.

Disclaimer filed tion of moistening ded1 claims from the operat on of claim 12 any construc vide ih gvliicli the guard means does not rest upon and malntaln constant coiatifit with the top of the inverted brush except when gummed strlps are being passe oug the moistener.

[Ofic'ial Gazette February 14, 1983.]

DISCLAIMER 1,194,752.--The0d0re H. Krueger, New York, N. Y. MOISTENING DEVICE FOR GUMMED STICKERS OR LABELS. Patent dated August 15, 1916. Disclaimer filed January 24, 1933, by the asignee, Better Packages, Inc. Hereby disclaims from the operation of claim 12 any construction of moisten'ing device in which the guard means does not rest upon and maintain constant contact with the top of the inverted brush except when gummed strips are being passed through the Inoistener.

[Qflicial Gazette February 14, 1.933.] 

